Peninsula Humane Society (PHS)

Who We Are

PHS is a private non-profit organization of staff and volunteers dedicated to ensuring humane treatment and improving the quality of life for animals through service, education, advocacy and example. Each year thousands of animals pass through our doors. We provide a warm bed, nutritious food, veterinary care and a gentle touch for all the lost, stray, unwanted and injured domestic and wild animals in our community.

Since we are contracted with all cities in San Mateo County, we have no control over the number of animals we receive (21,000 last year alone!). We cannot selectively choose which animals to accept or limit our services to only these animals with a good chance of being adopted. We give all animals a second chance, while most smaller adoption agencies accept animals they deem adoptable, and turn the rest away. 

Educational programs, outreach clinics, and partnerships with other organizations bring our services to the many animals who never set paw in our shelter. We hold a monthly support group for those grieving the loss of a loved companion, assist county residents face the daunting task of finding pet-friendly rental housing, offer multiple levels of obedience classes, offer a speakers bureau, and investigate hundreds of cruelty calls. PHS is much more than a shelter. It's a place where dedicated professionals and volunteers share their passion, talent and commitment in service to the animals and people in the diverse communities that make up San Mateo County. We invite you to learn more about us.

Our Challenge

Our goal is to created a new reality for the animals in our community, where a home is available to every animal in need and euthanasia is necessary only as an escape from suffering or for the protection of people and other animals. Consider some startling statistics: In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce more than 420,000 kittens. In six years, one female dog and her offspring can produce more than 67,000 puppies. Because there aren't nearly enough people to care for these animals, 6.5 million animals are euthanized each year in shelters nationwide. Our approach to ending this tragedy is multifaceted. We educate the public about the benefits of spaying and neutering, and require that all animals adopted from our sheltered be altered before going home. We helped pass legislation in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County and the cities of Belmont and San Mateo that requires dogs and cats to be licensed and altered, unless a special breeder's permit has been purchased. We are spending more time teaching basic obedience to our shelter dogs, making our shelter more comfortable for visitors and bringing more animals out in the community with our mobile adoption program. We don't see becoming a no-kill shelter as an option; this simply shifts the task of euthanasia and handling the thousands of animals deemed not adoptable to others. With help from the community, our responsible approach will succeed.

Fifty Years of Innovation

For nearly 50 years, PHS has been a progressive, often-modeled leader. Its roots trace back to a small association of animal advocates who found deplorable conditions at the local pounds and established the society. Soon thereafter, this new organization contracted with San Mateo County to provide animal control services -- the first such relationship of its kind. In the 1970s, PHS became the first state humane society to have an on-site Spay/Neuter Clinic, a wildlife rehabilitation center and "get acquainted" rooms for the public to meet and play with shelter animals as part of the adoption process. By the late 1970s, the Society began teaching the humane treatment of animals to schoolchildren. In the 1990s, PHS helped pass groundbreaking legislation - the Pet Overpopulation Ordinance - in unincorporated parts of the county, San Mateo and Belmont. This past winter, PHS helped form the Bay Area Coalition of Animal Protection Agencies (BACAPO) - a 13-member coalition - to develop an alternative to proposed trap and kill measures in Redwood Shores. Today a workforce just over 100 serves every city in the county, while adhering to the Society's original mission.

Wildlife Care Center

Nearly a third of all animals we receive are local injured or orphaned wildlife. Our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is one of only a few of its kind in California humane societies or SPCAs. Facilities include raptor and songbird aviaries, a diving pool for sea birds, a duck pond, and mammal enclosures. Orphaned wildlife, such as baby birds, opossum, raccoons and squirrels are hand-fed and raised until old enough to eat and survive on their own. We treat sick and injured wildlife until they are well enough to be released. With the care and expertise of trained staff and volunteers, we rehabilitate and release more than 50% back to their habitats.

Exotic Species 

Exotic animals also fall under the care of the Wildlife Care Center. Exotic species include birds from small finches to large macaws, and reptiles from tiny lizards to large monitors, caiman and snakes. We adopt some exotics, but carefully screen potential adopters to ensure good matches for these special animals.

Nuisance Wildlife 

We do not trap what is termed as nuisance wildlife - raccoons, skunks, opossum or squirrels. Removing an animal from its habitat only opens up the space for another one to move in. We do offer tips on Living With Local Wildlife, including ways to keep these animals away from your property. 

Wildlife Volunteer

These volunteers help provide the best possible care and rehabilitation for all wild animals sheltered at our Wildlife Care Center, which treats approximately 4,000 sick, injured, or orphaned animals per year. Wildlife volunteers have a rare opportunity to work directly with and handle a variety of wild and exotic animals. Basic duties include: cleaning cages, washing dishes, and doing laundry for the animals; handling incoming phone calls and paperwork; feeding animals; handling and working with animals (under direct supervision); assisting with wildlife-related emergencies (oil spills, etc.); and releasing successfully rehabilitated animals. Wildlife volunteers should be interested in learning about a variety of native animals; volunteers should also be in good physical condition and must not be squeamish about preparing meals which may include live worms and dead mice. This position requires a commitment of three hours per week.

Details of volunteer and membership schemes, services , resource libraries and forthcoming events are available.